About this item
"The first biography of arguably the most influential member of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's administration, Marguerite 'Missy' LeHand, FDR's de facto chief of staff, who has been misrepresented, mischaracterized, and overlooked throughout history...until now"--"Journalist Smith (A Necessary War) grants readers an unusual insider's view of F.D.R.'s political career by profiling his longtime private secretary. Marguerite 'Missy' LeHand, a young woman with a modest background, an agile intellect, a pleasant personality, and remarkable stenographer's skills, began working for F.D.R. in 1920, when he ran for vice president. Smith writes particularly well about F.D.R.'s struggle to bounce back from being struck with polio in 1921, explaining the disease and the origins of the Warm Springs, Ga.
About the Author
KATHRYN SMITH is a journalist and writer with a long fascination with Franklin Delano Roosevelt, his circle and his times. Her abiding interest in FDR led to her decision to write "The Gatekeeper," the first and only biography of Marguerite LeHand, his private secretary, confidant, advisor and friend. Kathryn frequently speaks about Missy, often in character and in period costume. (Visit her website at www.kathrynsmithwords.com or the Missy LeHand page on Facebook) Kathryn's most recent venture is co-authorship, with Kelly Durham, of the Missy LeHand Mystery novels, beginning with "Shirley Temple Is Missing." A second novel, "The President's Birthday Ball Affair," is in the works. Kathryn and Kelly attended high school together in the 1970s and re-connected professionally a few years ago when she began proof-reading his fiction books. Kathryn was so taken with Kelly's inventive and fact-based World War II thrillers and Old Hollywood novels that she asked him to collaborate with her on a Missy mystery. The rest, as they say, is history.
